Certified Financial Transitionist®
Complaint Policy

Financial Transitionist® Institute (“FTI”) created its Certified Financial Transitionist® (“CeFT®”) mark with the goal of providing specialized financial services to those experiencing life transitions. In order to provide the public with excellent service, FTI requires its CeFT® professionals to adhere to FTI’s Code of Ethicsand Disciplinary Rules and Procedures. A professional’s use of the CeFT® mark is contingent on his or her understanding, acceptance, and compliance with FTI’s codes.

FTI’s Disciplinary Rules and Procedures provides a framework for investigating and enforcing FTI’s standards. If you believe that a CeFT® professional has violated the Disciplinary Rules and Procedures, you may submit a complaint to FTI in one of the following forms:

Prior to submitting a complaint or allegation of misconduct, please consider whether your complaint concerns a code violation, and not simply a misunderstanding with a CeFT® professional. Unclear, unsubstantiated, or undocumented complaints will not result in investigation or disciplinary action.

A description of the alleged code violation, including detailed factual allegations;

An accounting or estimate of any fees you have paid to the CeFT® professional;

A list or attachment of all contracts, disclosures, account initiation documents, or other relevant documents for the CDC’s consideration;

A list of any other regulatory bodies or official you have notified about the alleged misconduct; and

Your signature and the date, attesting to the truth of the matters contained in your complaint.

Upon determination that a complaint contains sufficient grounds to initiate an investigation, the CeFT® professional who is the subject of the complaint may receive information about the complaint, including a copy of the complaint and any accompanying documentation. As the investigation and enforcement proceedings progress, FTI may disclose details of the investigation with other state, federal, or private regulatory bodies, including, but not limited to, board of other financial designations, such as the CFP, CFA, CIMA, or CPA/PFS marks, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and/or the American Institute of CPAs ("AICPA"). FTI’s disclosures do not, in any way, relieve you of the responsibility of reporting your complaint to the appropriate regulators or authorities, or filing a claim for relief, should you desire to do so.

FTI reviews and considers all complaints submitted. Investigations and enforcement proceedings will not be made public, except as provided in the Disciplinary Rules and Procedures. Accordingly, though FTI is giving your complaint the consideration and attention it deserves, you will not be made aware of the status or result of the complaint, except as necessary to obtain additional information or documentation from you as part of the investigation. For detailed information about FTI’s disciplinary enforcement policies and procedures, please refer to the Disciplinary Rules and Procedures.

FTI and its Complaints and Discipline Committee (“CDC”) take the enforcement of FTI’s codes and standards seriously. They do not, however, provide the same type of relief as a court of law or arbitration panel. The purpose of the FTI CDC is to discipline CeFT® professionals in the case of code violations. FTI does not provide a method for obtaining any type of financial relief for customers. Should you wish to pursue your claims in court or before an arbitration panel, you must file and pursue those complaints in the appropriate forum.

The materials and information authored, created, distributed, published, or otherwise provided by the Financial Transitionist ® Institute (“FTI”) or in connection with the Certified Financial Transitionist ® (“CeFT®”) mark are provided without representations or warranties of any kind. FTI does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of any information provided, and reserves the right to change information without notice. Use of FTI materials and information is contingent upon agreement with the full disclaimer at www.suddenmoney.com/about-global-disclaimer.